LOUIS XIV DE FRANCIA

XIV, France's Sun King, had the longest reign in European history (1643-1715). During this time he brought absolute monarchy to its height, established a glittering court at Versailles, and fought most of the other European countries in four wars. The early part of his reign (1643-61), while Louis was young, was dominated by the chief minister Cardinal Mazarin. In the middle period (1661-85) Louis reigned personally and innovatively, but the last years of his personal rule (1685-1715) were beset by problems. Louis XIV is one of the most well-known and was one of the most powerful of the Kings of France. Famous for his big hair and residing in the rather large Palace of Versailles, his rule came at a time of France's supreme power. He was still too young and his mother Anne of Austria carried out ruling duties, assisted by Cardinal Jules Mazarin. His mother ruled as Regent; it was the time of the Fronde (1648-1653), the rebellion of the upper nobility and the people of Paris against the monarch. The young Louis felt humiliated by the arrogance of these nobles and threatened in his capital: he would remember this. Louis XIV was often known as the Sun King. The sun was associated with Apollo, god of peace and arts, and was also the heavenly body which gave life to all things, regulating everything as it rose and set. In the same way as the planets revolve around the Sun, he wanted his courtiers and the people of France to revolve around him. Louis XIV was a generous King but you had to earn favour by flattery and waiting on him.

Louis was the first men that used high heels. This wasn't because Louis XIV liked dressing as a woman, but because it made him look taller. Louis XIV was only five foot, four inches tall. But, when wearing his heels and one of his wigs, he would appear almost 7 feet tall. Apart from its exquisite heels, Louis XIV made history by conducting a general reorganization of the economy and reform of the army. Louis XIV was very interested in arts such as literature, ballet, paintings, sculptures, etc. He brought the Académie Française under his patronage and became its "Protector".

Louis was building Versailles almost all his life. He never saw Versailles ready because he had always new ideas for building or rebuilding, so Versailles was under construction till his death. Every corner and every smallest part of the palace and of the garden was build under his dearest care. Although the main ideas came from architects and gardeners, it's possible to say that Louis XIV was the builder and planner of that masterpiece.

His love was so strong, that he wanted Maria Mancini to be his wife, although he was a king. After he married Marie-Therese, he devoted himself to her and a year later they had a dauphin. Unfortunately Marie-Therese died so Louis was forced to marry somebody else. As he didn't want to marry another princess from foreign land, he decided to marry somebody from

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